Typographical composing machine



June 29, 1937. H. A. BURT TYPOGRAPHICAL comrosme MACHINE Filed Feb. '7, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR A TTORNEKJ" June 29, 1937. H. A. BURT 2,085,143

TYPOGRAPHICAL COMPOS ING MACHINE A TTORNE w June'29,1937. H. A. BURT 2,085,143

TYPOGRAPHICAL COMPOS ING MACHINE Filed Feb. 7, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 a JVJM TTORNE K H. A. BURT 2,085,143

TYPOGRAPHICAL COMPOSING MACHINE Filed Feb. 7, 1936 '4 Sheets-Sheet 4 June 29, 1937.

fF M %Q Q. k 1% I 11v VENTOR B Y I f A TTORNE YA ?atented June 2%, 1937 UNi'E'E STATES PATENT OFFHQE Harold A. Burt, St. Albans, N. 1., assignor to Mergenthalcr Linotype Company, a corporation of New York Application February 7, 1936, Serial No. 62,748

20 Claims.

This invention relates to typographical composing machines, such as Linotype machines of the general organization represented in Letters Patent of the United States to O. Mergenthaler, No.

5 436,532, wherein circulating matrices are released from a magazine in the order in which their characters are to appear in print and then assembled in line, the composed line transferred to the face of a slotted mold, the mold filled with molten 1 metal to form a slug or linotype against the matrices which produce the type characters thereon, and the matrices thereafter returned through distributing mechanism to the magazine from which they started. More particularly,

15 it relates to machines of this character provided with a series of main magazines and a series of auxiliary magazines, and contemplates certain improvements in the mechanism for composing the matrices from such magazines.

20 According to the invention, there is associated with the auxiliary series of magazines, a powerdriven keyboard similar in certain respects to that associated with the main series of magazines and under the direct control of which the matrices 25 can be released from the auxiliary magazines. In addition, however, the matrices can be released from the auxiliary magazines under the control of the main keyboard, thus producing a machine with exceptional flexibility. For example, condi- 30 tions may arise which would make it desirable to use in the bank of auxiliary magazines, in addition to a set of regular letter matrices arranged in the same order as in the main magazines, a set of letter matrices arranged in an order unlike that in the main magazine, or a set of special character matrices, such as carry accents, logotypes, or foreign letters; If composition from the auxiliary magazines were solely under the control of the main keyboard, or solely under the control of an auxiliary keyboard, it is apparent that the keys controlling the release of matrices from the auxiliary magazines would have to carry three different sets of character designations to take care of the three different conditions, or else the key designations would have to be changed to meet the different conditions,either expedient resulting in confusion and loss of time. With the present arrangement, the disadvantages referred to are obviated, since the release of matrices from an auxiliary magazine having the regular character arrangement may be efiected by the corresponding keys of the main keyboard, leaving the auxiliary keyboard to be designated with the special characters, or with the special arrangement 55 of regular characters, or with both if necessary.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a portion of the machine shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view through the auxiliary keyboard, showing the mechanism for operating the escapement devices of the auxiliary magazines;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the auxiliary keyboard, looking at the parts from the left and showing the mechanism for locking the keyboard in place; and

Fig. 5 is a plan View of the auxiliary keyboard, and showing also the intermediate connections between the keyboard and the escapement operating reeds in section.

The matrices of the regular fonts are stored in a series of main magazines A and are released therefrom under the control of a main keyboard B, which, as usual, through a series of cams operated from a power-driven roll B and a set of escapement reeds (not shown) efiects the operation of the escapement devices associated with the magazine located in operative position. As the matrices are released, they pass down or through a channeled raceway or assembler entrance 0 on to a conveyor belt C which delivers them to the customary assembler D, wherein they are composed in line, the assembler thereafter being raised as usual to deliver the composed line to the intermediate channel D through which the line is transferred to a line transporter or first elevator (not shown) for presentation to the mold.

The matrices of the auxiliary fonts are stored in a series of auxiliary magazines E arranged at the side of or in tandem with the main magazines and when released pass through a raceway C onto the conveyor belt C which, as shown in Fig. 1, extends to the right of the machine where it is horizontally disposed along the discharge end of the auxiliary magazine located in operative position so as to receive the matrices released therefrom.

These auxiliary magazines E have their grooved channels more widely separated than those of the main magazines in order to accommodate the larger matrices which they are intended to contain, each magazine being provided with thirtyfour different matrix channels. Each magazine is equipped with its own escapement devices which are actuated from a series of reeds E which correspond in number to and are spaced apart at the same distance as the matrix channels in the magazines. The actuating reeds are arranged for limited vertical movement in a frame F secured at the front of the machine and are directly in line with a series of intermediate reeds E immediately underlying them and which likewise are mounted for limited vertical movement in a frame E secured at the bottom of the frame E just alluded to (see Fig. 3). The lower reeds E are arranged for limited movement in a vertical direction in a pair of comb plates E and E arranged one near the bottom and one near the top of the reeds, the upper plate being closed at the rear by a transversely disposed member E which projects into notches E provided one in each of the reeds E in the rear edges thereof. The member E cooperates with the notches in the reeds to limit the upward and downward movement of the latter, the notches for this purpose being somewhat longer than the width of the closing member.

The escapement reeds E and consequently the overlying reeds E are operated by yokes F arranged in a bank at the front of and near the lower end of the reeds E and provided with cams or eccentrics F adapted, under the influence of trip dogs or triggers F to cooperate with an underlying power-driven r011 F in the well known way. The dogs are connected as usual to the upper ends of vertical slides F which are suitably supported in a framework secured to the keyboard frame, as will be hereinafter described, and which are adapted to be raised by the manipulation of the finger keys G of the keyboard G Inorder that the keys on the keyboard may be spaced as closely together as possible to facilitate operation, the slides F that release the triggers and which are spaced apart the same distance as the reedsE and E are not operated directly from the keys, but instead are operated through a series of closely spaced idler slides G which are connected to the active slides F through a series of U'-shaped straps'or bails G whose 0pposite parallel arms engage in notches formed in the rear edges of the active slides and in the idler slides which operate them. The idler slides G in turn are operated from the keys G of the keyboard, the pivotally mounted key bars G of which are formed for this purpose in their rear ends with tongues'g that engage in corresponding notches g formed in the front edges of the idler slides G According to this arrangement, a finger key occupying its usual place in the keyboard is capable of controlling the operation of its cam yoke located in the plane of the escapement reed or matrix column which is situated remote from the key.

Preferably, and as shown, these bails G are arranged in superposed groups corresponding to the'vertical banks of finger keys, there being six in each of the four upper groups and five in each of the-two lowermost groups, and mounted to rock upon'long pivot rods G extending from one side of the keyboard to the other, 'The bails G vary in length, depending upon the distances between the reeds and the finger keys controlling them, it being noted that the distances between V the escapement reeds and the keys gradually ditween the keys and the reeds grow greater, the escapement reeds in these latter instances being offset to the right of the keys rather than to the left (see Fig. 5).

The six pivot rods G are common to all the groups of connecting bails G each rod giving support to the corresponding bails of all the groups arranged at the same level. These pivot rods with the bails thereon are mounted in a boxlike structure comprising longitudinal front and rear parallel plates H and H secured together at their opposite ends by side plates H The pivot rods are fitted into the side plates H while the arms of the bails project forwardly through slotted openings 71. (see Fig. 3) in the front plate H to make engagement with the active slides F and the key actuated idler slides G the openings in the front plate being of such character as to permit a limited rocking movement of the bails such as is required in communicating the movements of the idler slides to the cam. releasing slides. It may be noted that the pivot rods are'capable 'ofbeing withdrawn endwise to disassemble the parts, the rods being held in place by a removable locking strip h engaging in circumferential grooves in the exposed ends of the rods G (see Figs. 2 and 5).

The members that comprise the ends Walls H of the bail box are secured to a pair of upright angle pieces K which in turn are secured to sta tionary posts K that project upwardly from the opposite ends of a frame K that supports the keyboard G Extending also between the angle pieces and secured at the top and bottom of the members H constituting the end walls of the bail box are a pair of longitudinal comb members H and H in which the slides F are carried. The slides F are formed with notches f somewhat longer than the thickness of the comb member H and into which the latter projects, said member serving to determine the degree of vertical movement of said slides. The slides F are confined in the'comb member H by a long plate H extending the width of the keyboard and fastened to the combmember just alluded to. The idler slides G are also secured against lateral displacement at their upper ends by a thin comb plate H fastened to a cross piece I-I secured at its ends to the angle members K, the cross piece lE-I being recessed in the tened to angle pieces K. Here the slides G are held against displacement in the comb member by a cross plate H, the latter plate as well as the top plate H cooperating with notches 9' formed in the upper and lower ends of the slides to limit the vertical movement thereof. As the frame which carries the cam yoke assembly is fastened to the corner posts K of the keyboard frame K the whole constitutes a unitary assembly and, as the keyboard frame is pivotally mounted, this assembly may be swung aside as a unit to give access to the parts. a

The keyboard supporting frame K is mounted to turn about a pivot rod L (see Figs. 1, 2 and 5) disposed at the right of the machine so that the frame may be swung outwardly toward the right away from the main keyboard and also away from the frame E supporting the reeds E the separation of the parts occurring here between the reeds E and the camyokes F. The keyboard supporting frame K is locked in its normal closed condition by a latch comprising a spring pressed detent M (see Fig. 4) mounted in a lug K formed on the keyboard frame and which is arranged to seat in a recess M formed in a bracket M carried by the main frame. The detent is provided with a knob M to facilitate its withdrawal from the recess when it is desired to swing the keyboard aside, and that part of the bracket in which the recess M is disposed is formed in its front edge 19 with a bevelled surface M so that the detent will snap in place as the keyboard frame .is swung back to normal position.

The keyboard G extends .at an angle toward the operator, so as to be readily accessible to him and is of usual construction, the key bars G being pivotally mounted at their centers on long rods G extending transversely of the keyboard and fixed at their ends in the side plates thereof. Six pivot rods are provided, each rod giving support to one horizontal row of keys and, in order that the keyboard may be disassembled, the rods G may be withdrawn endwise out of the frame. Normally, the rods are held in position by a stepped plate G (see Fig. 2) screwed to the side plate of the keyboard and engaging incircumferential grooves formed in the ends of the rods.

In addition to being operable from the auxiliary keyboard, the actuating reeds E which operate the escapement mechanism of the auxiliary mag- 39 azines are likewise operable, when desired, from the large cap or upper case group of keys at the right of the keyboard associated with the main magazines. The connections for effecting such operation are fully described in the Kennedy Patent No. 1,561,244, and need not be repeated here in detail. Sufiice it to say, there are arranged at the rear of the right hand group of actuating reeds associated with the main magazines and with the actuating reeds associated with the auxiliary magazines, a series of transverse substantially U-shaped rocking bails N adapted to connect corresponding actuating reeds of the two sets, such that when any given one of the right hand group of main reeds is raised by the actuation of the associated finger key, the motion thereof will be transmitted through the appropriate connecting bail N to the corresponding auxiliary reed E There are as many such bails as there are actuating reeds E or thirty-four in all, and each of said bails presents at its opposite ends two parallel arms for engagement respectively with the corresponding reeds of the two sets which it is intended to connect. As shown in Fig. 3, the arms are connected below corresponding projecting lugs E provided on the rear edges of the reeds E the arrangement being such that, as a main reed is raised by the operation of its associated finger key, the corresponding auxiliary reed will likewise be raised to effect the operation of the escapement device of the associated channel in the auxiliary magazine.

Of course, it is understood that the operation of the escapement mechanism of the main magazine and the escapement mechanism of the aux- 65 iliary magazine by the main keyboard is selective, mechanism being provided for actuating the main escapement mechanism from the main reeds or the auxiliary escapement mechanism through the pivoted bails, depending on the manner in which the parts are conditioned, all as fully set forth in the Kennedy patent just referred to.

Both the cam rolls B of the main keyboard and the cam roll F of the auxiliary keyboard are driven by a belt and pulley arrangement P from 75 the intermediate shaft P In order that proper tension may be maintained in the belt there is employed a belt tightener in the form of a bell crank lever P freely journalled on the intermediate shaft and having one arm equipped with a roller P which is urged against the belt to take up the slack by a tension spring P fastened at the end of the other arm of the bell crank lever P and anchored in the main frame (see Fig. 2). A belt tightener of this nature can be provided for the cam roll drive associated with the main keyboard, as well as that associated with the auxiliary .keyboard.

Suppose now the machine is equipped with three auxiliary magazines, in one of which there are stored regular letter matrices arranged in the order corresponding to that of the upper case characters in the right portion of the main magazine, in another of which there are stored regular letter matrices having an arrangement unlike that in the main magazine, as is sometimes the case, and in still another of which there are arranged special letters, accents, logotypes, etc., having no counterpart in the main magazines. With the present improvements, letter matrices can be released from the auxiliary magazine wherein they are stored in regular order under the control of the main keyboard, since the keys thereof will correspond with the matrices to be released thereby. This leaves the keys of the auxiliary keyboard free to be designated with the characters of the matrices in the corresponding magazine channels where a special arrangement has been carried out, and with the special characters, accents and logotypes for the third magazine referred to. Two characters on a key will create but little confusion, but if desired the keys of the auxiliary keyboard can be designated with either the special arrangement of regular characters or the arrangement of special characters and the designations changed when the necessity therefor arises. The real advantage in the invention resides in the fact that the keyboard for releasing matrices from an auxiliary magazine which has the matrices arranged in the regular order corresponding to that in the main magazine do not have to be cluttered with miscellaneous characters which would be the case were it not for the additional keyboard provided herein for such characters.

The present improvements have been designed for ready attachment to existing commercial machines equipped with a set of auxiliary magazines operable from the main keyboard. To this end, the frame in which the auxiliary actuating reeds E are mounted is the same as in the commercial machine, and the new keyboard attachment is arranged to function through such reeds by the addition of the intermediate reeds E located between the reeds E and the cam yokes F and which are mounted in the supplemental frame E secured to the frame E as previously described.

In the accompanying drawings, the invention has been shown merely by way of example and in preferred form, and obviously many variations and modifications may be made therein which will still be comprised within its spirit. It is to be understood, therefore, that the invention is not limited to any specific form or embodiment, except insofar as such limitations are specified in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A typographical composing machine including, in combination, a main magazine and an auxiliary magazine arranged one alongside the other and wherein matrices are stored, individual keyboards for the respective magazines, and means for effecting the release of matrices from one magazine under the control of the keyboard asso- 5 ciated with the other magazine, when desired.

2. A typographical composing machine including in combination, a main magazine and an auxiliary magazine arranged one alongside the other and wherein matrices are stored, individual power-operated keyboards for the respective magazines, and means for efiecting the release of matrices from one magazine under the control of the keyboard associated with the other magazine, when desired.

3. A typographical composing machine including, in combination, a main magazine and an auxiliary magazine arranged one alongside the other and wherein matrices are stored, individual independently-driven power-operated keyboards for the respective magazines, and means for effecting the release of matrices from one magazine under the control of the keyboard associated with the other magazine, when desired.

4. A typographical composing machine includ- V ing, in combination, a main magazine and an auxiliary magazine arranged one alongside the other and wherein matrices are stored, a bank of escapement actuating devices associated with each of said magazines for releasing the matrices for composition, a main keyboard and an auxiliary keyboard for operating the respective banks of escapement actuating devices, and means for operating the escapement actuating devices associated with one magazine from the keyboard associated with the other magazine.

5. A typographical composing machine including, in combination, a main magazine and an auxiliary magazine arranged one alongside the other and wherein matrices are stored, a bank of escapement actuating devices associated with each of said magazines for releasing the matrices for composition, a main keyboard and an auxiliary keyboard for operating the respective banks of escapement actuating devices, and connections between the escapement actuating devices of the two banks, whereby either magazine may be operated from its own keyboard or one magazine operated from either keyboard, as desired.

6. A typographical composing machine including, in combination, a main magazine having, a full complement of matrix channels, an auxiliary magazine having a lesser number of matrix channels, a keyboard associated with each of the magazines and having keys corresponding in number to the matrix channels in the magazine with which it is associated, a bank of escapement actuating devices for effecting the release of matrices from each magazine under the control of the corresponding keyboard, and means for effecting the release of matrices from the auxiliary magazine under the control, of a corresponding number of keys of the main keyboard, when desired.

7. A typographical composing machine including, in combination, a main magazine having a full complement of matrix channels, an auxiliary magazine having a lesser number of matrix channels, a keyboard associated with each of the magazines and having keys corresponding in number to the matrix channels in the magazine with which it is associated, power-operated escapement actuating devices for effecting the release of matrices from each magazine under the control of the corresponding keyboard, and means for ef- 75 fecting the release of matrices from the auxiliary magazine under the control of a corresponding number of keys of the main keyboard.

8. A typographical composing machine including, in combination, a main magazine having a full complement of matrix channels, an auxiliary magazine having a lesser number of matrix chan nels, a keyboard associated with each of the magazines and having keys corresponding in number to the matrix channels in the magazine with which it is associated, means intermediate the matrix channels and the corresponding keys of the keyboards for effecting the release of matrices from the channels under the control of their're-v spective keys, means for releasing matrices'from the channels of theauxiliary magazine under the control of a group of keys of the main keyboard, and means for shifting the control of said group of keys from the corresponding group of matrix channels in themain magazine to' the matrix channels in the auxiliary magazine, whereby matrices may be released from the auxiliary magazine either from its associated keyboard or from the main keyboard as desired.

9. A typographical composing machine adapted to employ magazines wherein the matrices difier as to arrangement, a bank of escapement actuating devices for efiecting the release of thematrices from the magazine in use, and a plurality of keyboards adapted for the selective operationv -10. A typographical composing machine includ-' ing, in combination, a. main magazine having matrices stored therein according toone arrangement, an auxiliary magazine having matrices stored therein according to the same arrangement or according to a dififerent arrangement, a bank of escapement actuatingdevices associated with each magazine, amain keyboard and an auxiliary keyboard for operating the respective banks of escapement devices, said main keyboard having key designations corresponding to the arrangement of matrices in the main magazine and said auxiliary keyboard having key designations correspondingto the arrangement of matrices in an auxiliary magazine that differs from that in themain magazine, and means for effecting the operation of the bank of escapement actuating devices associated with the auxiliary magazine from the main keyboard when the arrangement of matrices in the auxiliary magazine corresponds to that in the main magazine.

11. A combination according to claim 10, wherein both keyboards are power-operated, and wherein the operation of the escapement actuating devices associated with the auxiliary magazine from the main keyboard is through oiTset connections. 1

12. A typographical composing machine including, in combination, a plurality of matrix magazines arranged side by side, and adapted to have matrices stored therein in like or unlike arrangement as desired, individual banks of escapement actuating devices for the respective magazines to eiiect the release of matrices: therefrom, individual keyboards for operating said escapement actuating devices, and means for effecting the operation of both sets of escapement devices from one of said keyboards when the arrangement of matrises in both magazines is alike. I

13. A typographical composing machine including, in combination, a main magazine having a full complement of matrix channels, an auxiliary magazine having a lesser number of matrix channels, a keyboard associated with each of the magazines and having keys corresponding in number to the matrix channels in the respective magazines with which they are associated, means including escapement actuating devices between the keys of the keyboards and their corresponding matrix channels operable to effect the release of the matrices therefrom, connections between the escapement actuating devices associated with the auxiliary keyboard and a corresponding number of such devices associated with the main keyboard so as to permit the release of matrices from the auxiliary magazine under the control of the main keyboard, and means for adjusting the connections to permit operation of one set of escapement actuating devices or the other from the keys of the main keyboard associated with both as desired, whereby matrices may be composed from the main and auxiliary magazines using the main keyboard or both the main and auxiliary keyboards or from the auxiliary magazine using either keyboard.

14. A typographical composing machine including, in combination, a main magazine having a full complement of matrix channels, an auxiliary magazine having a lesser number of matrix channels, a. power driven keyboard associated with each of the magazines and having keys corresponding in number to the matrix channels in the respective magazines with which they are associated, means including escapement actuating devices between the keys of the keyboard and their corresponding matrix channels operable to efiect the release of matrices therefrom, connections between the escapement actuating devices associated with the auxiliary keyboard and a corresponding number of such devices associated with the main keyboard so as to permit the release of matrices from the auxiliary magazine under the control of the main keyboard, and means for adjusting the connections to permit operation of one set of escapement actuating devices or the other from the keys of the main keyboard associated with both as desired, whereby matrices may be composed from the main and auxiliary magazines using only the main keyboard or both the main and auxiliary keyboards, or from the auxiliary magazine using either keyboard.

15. A combination according to claim 13, wherein the bank of escapement actuating devices associated with the auxiliary magazine is actuated from the main keyboard through intermediate offset connections between said devices and a corresponding number of escapement actuating devices associated with the main magazine and from the auxiliary keyboard through a corresponding number of intermediate elements between said auxiliary escapement actuating devices and the auxiliary keyboard.

16. A typographical composing machine including, in combination, a main magazine having a full complement of matrix channels, an auxiliary magazine having a lesser number of matrix channels of greater width than those of the main magazine, a keyboard associated with each of the magazines and having keys corresponding in number to the matrix channels in the respective magazines with which they are associated, the keys of the auxiliary keyboard being spaced closer together than the matrix channels with which they are associated, means including escapement actuating devices between the keys of the keyboards and their corresponding matrix channels operable to efiect the release of matrices therefrom, those associated with the auxiliary magazine being in the planes of their corresponding matrix channels, connections between the escapement actuating devices associated with the auxiliary magazine and a corresponding number of escapement actuating devices associated with the main magazine so as to permit the release of matrices from the auxiliary magazine under the control of the main keyboard, means for adjusting the connections to permit operation of the auxiliary escapement actuating devices or the main escapement actuating devices by the keys of the main keyboard associated with both as desired, power drives for both keyboards, and offset connections between the keys of the auxiliary keyboard and their associated escapement actuating devices located in a difierent plane, whereby the operator may efiect the release of matrices from the main magazine or the auxiliary magazine from the main keyboard or from their respective keyboards with the same ease of manipulation by virtue of the close spacing of the keys of the auxiliary keyboard and the power drive thereof.

17. A combination according to claim 16, wherein the auxiliary keyboard is arranged at an angle and extends toward the operator seated at the main keyboard further to facilitate the operation of the auxiliary keyboard.

18. A typographical composing machine in cluding, in combination, main and auxiliary magazines arranged side by side, individual sets of escapement actuating devices for the main and auxiliary magazines, main and auxiliary power operated keyboard mechanisms for operating the individual sets of escapement actuating devices respectively, and a supporting frame wherein the auxiliary keyboard mechanism is sustained, said frame being pivoted on a vertical axis located adjacent one end thereof so as to'permit the auxiliary keyboard mechanism to be moved bodily into and out of operative relation to its associated escapement actuating devices and away from the main keyboard mechanism.

19. A typographical composing machine including, in combination, main and auxiliary magazines arranged side by side, individual sets of escapement actuating devices for the main and auxiliary magazines, main and auxiliary power operated keyboard mechanisms for operating the individual sets of escapement actuating devices respectively, and individual supporting frames wherein the main and the auxiliarykeyboard mechanisms are sustained, said frames being each pivoted on a vertical axis located adjacent one end thereof so as to permit both keyboard mechanisms to be moved bodily into and out of operative relation to their associated escapement actuating devices and clear of each other.

20. A combination according to claim 18, wherein the frame sustaining the auxiliary keyboard mechanism is provided with a spring pressed detent acting as the pivoted frame is swung into operative position automatically to locate the frame properly and lock it against movement.

HAROLD A. BURT. 

